American Energy CorporationMining Incidents in 2008

A roof fall was found on the South Mains ""D"" mainline belt inby 45 x-cut. Fall was approx. 10 ft long x 15 ft wide x 2 to 8 ft. high. Area was bolted with Install II bolts and resin assisted. The supplemental support consisted of bacon straps and wire mesh screen. Cause of the fall was deterioration of the mine roof through weathering.

A roof fall was found on the South Mains ""D"" mainline belt at 28 x-cut. Fall was approx. 30' long by 26' wide by 7 to 8' high. Fall did not obstruct ventilation or escapeways. Area bolted with 8' Install III bolts with resin assisted with supplemental support consisting of bacon straps, wood cribs and 4"" H-beams. Cause of this fall was weathering of the roof.

The slope hoist car was descending down the slope and around 531 feet a DC fault occurred and the computer shut down the hoist. After trouble shooting for the cause since the fault would not re-set a wire was found to have come loose on the repeater. The slope hoist was down for more than 30 minutes due to this problem, there was no accident that occurred.

Employee was descending down the elevator when a electrical storm was passsing through the area. The electrical storm knocked out the mine and building power and the elevator stopped. Power did not come back on until 5:20pm at that time the person was removed from the elevator. No damage occurred to the elevator and was checked by an MSHA inspector.

A roof fall was found at 2:55 am on South Mains ""B"" beltline at 7 x-cut. The belts went down around 2am and upon further investigation after trouble shooting the belt was walked. Cause of this roof fall was deterioration of existing roof. Area bolted with 8' bolts and resin with supplemental supports installed. Size of fall is approx. 25' long by 50 to 60' wide by 10' high.

The hoist was descending the brakecar when the hoist shut down. A 800 amp fuse blew, after replacing the fuses the breaker would not re-set (kept knocking). When the fuse blew it arced across the back of the Siemens electronic computer controls. A new control box had to be replaced and programmed. Cause of this was the arc shield was found to be missing.

Roof fall was found in the No. 1 entry of South Mains B return (outby) at 34 x-cut. Fall did not obstruct ventilation or escapeways. Fall will not be cleaned up and is supported over top. Size of fall was approx. 25 feet long by 14 feet wide and 7 to 10 feet high. Bolted with 8' Install II bolts and point anchor resin. Cause was deteriorating roof conditions.

Elevator was descending down the shaft and stopped at 163 feet. The computer fault could not be re-set and 30 minutes went by with one person in the elevator. Cause of this stoppage was ice formed on the governor rope due to cold weather and water in pit.

Chg out coil springs on a shqker screen and while he reached for the spring to pull out the hydraulic jack they were using kicked out and the screen fell catching his left little finger. Cause of this injury was not blocking raised components. Compliance with regulations was a factor, miner proficiency a factor, personnel protective equip. not a factor, mining systems

Was struck by drill steel on outter right arm when steels lowered out of roof due to correction made when drilling hole. Suffered a contusion. Cause was safety awareness. Rules and regulations were not factor. Mining systems and equipment was not a factor. Miner proficiency was a factor. PPE was not a factor.

Holding starter steel in a 4 ft. hole,the stab jack of the bolter slid off a rock causing the canopy to contact his right hand as he was still holding on to drill steel creating a contusion on the back of hand. Cause was safety awareness. Rules and regulations were not factors. The bolter was a RRII. Miner proficiency may have been a factor. PPE was not a factor.

Employee was sitting on a shield that was done moving and as the adj. shield moved in towards the panline the shield caught a brow and the panline jumped back. Cause of this injury was safety awarenesss. Miner proficiency a factor, mining systems could be a factor, miner protective devices not a factor, compliance with rules/reg. not a factor.

Alleged incident was to have occurred while this employee was spinning the shearer drum to change bits. He claims to have strained his shoulder. Cause of this injury was physical ability. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, miner attitude a factor, mining equip/systems a factor, protective equip. not a factor.

Employee was bolting and slickenslide roof fell from the face to the ATRS without warning and struck him on the side of his leg and ankle. Cause of this injury was safety knowledge. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip not a factor, miner knowledge could be a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee descending a ramp off the overcast stepped on a rock twisting his ankle. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor.

Employee was lowering a jack and he did not notice that the jack did not latch and the handle snapped up and struck him on his wrist. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective equip. not a factor, miner knowledge could be a factor, mining systems could be a factor.

Employee placed his foot on the track rail attempting to couple a safety chain between shield cars. The car moved and the wheel of the shield car went up against his foot. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip not a factor, miner attitude a factor, mining equip./systems not a factor.

Alledged incident was to have occurred while this employee was pushing a roof bolt into the roof, he said his arm went limp and could not lift it up. Cause of this injury if occurred was overexertion. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip not a factor, mining systems could be a factor, miner proficiency a factor.

As this employee was bending over to pick up a wedge a cement block fell off the wall he was building and struck him on his foot. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/system not a factor.

Alledged incident was to have occurred while advancing belt. He claims to have hurt his back while lifting bottom roller and placing it in the bracket stand. Cause of this injury if occurred was overexertion. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective equipment not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor.

Alledged incident was to have occurred while this employee was handling 5-gallon oil cans, he claims to have heard a ""pop"" in his right shoulder. Cause if injury if occurred was overexertion. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor

Injury was to have occurred while he was bending over to pick up a water hose on the floor but did not get to pick it up, he claims his back went out. Cause of this injury was overexertion and aggravation of old back problems. Rules/regs was not a factor, protective equipment could be a factor (back support), miner attitude a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was struck on the side of his ankle by a overhanging brow while bolting. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equipment not a factor, mining equip/system not a factor, miner proficiency a factor.

Employee stated that has he was driving a golf cart. The steering wheel spun around striking the back of his hand. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, miner attitude was a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor, protective equip (gloves) was a factor.

Alledged incident was to have occurred while this employee was lifting a 5 gallon bucket of sealant. Cause of this injury was improper lifting and not wearing back support. Compliance with ruels/regs is not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor, protective equipment (back support) a factor.

As the rubber-tired vehicle was getting off the track, it hit a bump and the injured person grabbed onto the side of the frame. He caught his fingers between the vehicle and the track rail. Cause was safety awarness. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective gloves were being worn, miner proficiency a factor, mining equipment/systems could be a factor.

Injured was loading 8' bolts into the scoop bucket and one of the bands broke and scattered the bolts. He shut the scoop off, got out and dropped the bucket. As he was reaching under the bucket to get a bolt, the bucket came down on his left hand smashing it.

Employee was reaching for his drill steel when the starter steel fell out of the roof and struck him on his hand. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equipment was being worn, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Maint. foreman and co-worker were changing out a shield leg and when he pressurized the leg a 10 mm plug blew out striking him on his lower leg (calf). Cause of this injury was removing the staple lock to the plug. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, protective equip not a factor, mining systems could be a factor.

Employee, along with co-workers, were lifting rail up onto a rail truck to be removed from the section. Cause of this injury is not having a mechanical means to lift rail onto rail trucks. Compliance with rules/regs, protective equip was not a factor. Mining systems is a factor for this job and miner proficiency a factor.

Roof bolting and a piece of rock fell from the roof striking him on the back of his hand. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules and regs, protective equip and mining systems or equip. was not a factor. Miner proficiency a factor.

Sliding 4"" h-beam over the top of the last shield on the recovery face rock fell along side of the shield striking EE and landing on his ankle. Cause of the injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs, protective equip was not a factor. Miner knowledge may be a factor, mining systems could be a factor.

Employee got his foot piniched between a 4"" h-beam laying along shields and the toe of the shield when the Petitto mule bumped the beam. Cause of this injury was safety awarness. Compliance with rules/regs, protective equip., was not a factor, mining systems could be a factor, miner proficiency a factor.

After loading the trailing cable slack on the conveyor of a BU loader he jumped down off the piece of equipment resulting in a sprained knee. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules was a factor, miner proficiency a factor, personnel protective equip not a factor, mining equipment systems not a factor.

EE was pounding the shell off a top broken middle roller with the belt running. Drill steel touched the moving belt & his arm was drug over the side middle roller. Cause of this injury was an unsafe act and not locking out the belt. Complaince of rules and regs, miner attitude a factor, mining equip. was a factor.

Employee was reaching for a crib off a pile and a couple of other cribs fell from this pile stricking the top of his hand. Cause of this injury was safety awareness and this unstable pile of cribs. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip was not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Alleged incident was to have occurred while his co-worker threw a stick of resin over to him and he claims that this stick of resin slipped through his hands and hit him in the chest. Cause of this injury was horseplay. Compliance with rules was a factor, miner attitude a factor, protective equip. not a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Alledged incident was to have occurred while this employee was pulling on a cable to get slack to hang it. Did not report this incident until 6/26/08. Cause if happened was improper lifting. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective equip a factor (back support), miner attitude a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was putting shield car on track. Employee was lining wheel up and swung the wheel and pinched his left index finger between wheel and the frame of car. Cause of injury was lack of concentration and safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip was not a factor. Mining equip/system not a factor and miner proficiency not a factor.

Employee straightened a bent 8 ft. bolt to put in top and felt a strain in his back. Cause of injury was overexertion. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip was a factor(back support), miner proficiency may have been a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was leaning over the dozer hydraulic tank looking for a leak and felt back pain. Cause of this injury is unknown (he was not performing any work). Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip a factor (back support), miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor

Employee and another co-worker were making a belt splice and as the two worked toward each other he was struck above the eye with a hammer. Cause of this injury was lack of communication and safety awareness. Complaince with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip not a factor, mining equip/system not a factor and miner proficiency a factor.

Supervisor was helping to hang the miner cable when he felt pain in his back. Cause of this injury was not having enough help and getting enough slack. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective equip a factor (back support), miner proficiency a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor.

Employee was going under a curtain while attempting to carry a ladder, bag, hilti gun and while attempting to lift up on the curtain he claims to have strained his back. Cause of injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor. PPE (back support not worn) could be a factor; miner attitude a factor; mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was helping to unload crib blocks off supply car to scoop car. One of his co-workers threw a crib block on his finger. Cause of this injury was lack of communciation. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, PPE could be a factor, miner knowledge could be a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was going up a top half of an extension ladder to tie it off, the ladder slipped and started falling, he jumped. Cause of this injury was not following policy and procedures. Compliance with rules was a factor, miner attitude a factor, protective equipment a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was using a hammer to pounding against a metal drill chuck and a piece of metal flew off sticking him in his lower leg. Cause of this injury was safety awareness and knowledge. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equipment not a factor, miner knowledge could be a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor.

Employee went to break a wood header and he smacked it against the side of the belt rail and his finger was in-between. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip. not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Alleged incident was to have occurred while this employee was moving valcunizing material. He claims to have pulled his back but had no pain until next day. Cause of this injury (if occurred) was improper lifting techniques and having enough help. Compliance with rules/regs, protective equipment, mining equip/systems not a factor, miner proficiency a factor.

Employee was using a razor knife to cut open a splice and the knife slipped cutting himself in the hand. Cause of this injury was safety awarness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip use was a factor, mining equip/systems is not a factor, miner proficiency a factor.

Employee rolled over a piece of mine rail to make another cut on it and the rail slipped pinching his finger. Cause of this injury was safety awareness and having proper help. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equipment (gloves) a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/system not a factor.

Maint. Foreman when opening the top of an oil can he cut his hand between his thumb and index finger. Cause of this injury was not wearing proper gloves. Compliance with rules was a factor, protective equip was a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was cutting a metal band that was holding a pellet of bacon straps together on a supply car. The band when it was cut through flew up and laceration his arm. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equip (long sleeve shirt) was a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Employee was operating the shearer and a small piece of rock flew off by the drum hitting him in the lip. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs, protective equip, and mining systems and equip was not a factor. Miner proficiency a factor.

Employee was crossing railroad cars and has he was descending the ladder he missed the last step and fell. Cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective equip. not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor